I don’t think Beckham would even be in the top 10 English players of the modern era (let alone ever). Yes, hes a nice guy and there’s nobody better than him in terms of making a financial success compared to his talent (which was basically the ability to put a cross in and take a decent free kick) However, Gerrard, Lampard and Scholes were appreciably better midfielders IMO and I’d also put players like Le Tissier, Hoddle and Gascoigne in front of him purely from a skill/talent point of view too (others too but those three are a lot in front of him). Then, away from midfield, you have players such as Lineker, Shearer and Rooney...
A player who could dribble, send a player the wrong way with a drop of his shoulder, who could tackle, defend and score goals. There was only one, the late great George Best. There was no other player came close.
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However, Gerrard, Lampard and Scholes were appreciably better midfielders IMO and I’d also put players like Le Tissier, Hoddle and Gascoigne in front of him purely from a skill/talent point of view too (others too but those three are a lot in front of him). Then, away from midfield, you have players such as Lineker, Shearer and Rooney...
Zidane
Franco Baresi
Van Basten
Maldini
Zola
Bergkamp
Suarez
;ok